Peeing, Pooping & Spitting: Seeing Extreme Behaviors as a Call for Help

Have you noticed some children will increase their behaviors in what seems to be an effort to gain your attention? Have you ever had a child exhibit a behavior that just seems so bizarre to you and you were at a loss for how to respond? Children with extreme behaviors and mental illness present some of the most challenging moments in the classroom. Some of these behaviors can be alarming to the adults who care for them. Seeing all behavior as a form of communication creates opportunity for acceptance of where the child is, connection, and teaching new skills. Listen in as Kim Jackson, Conscious Discipline Master Instructor and demonstration teacher in North Carolina, shares strategies for working with children during extreme behaviors. ESSENTIAL TAKEAWAYS • Seeing all behavior as communication enables adults to create teaching moments, even with them most challenging children. • Adults managing their own emotional states in times of conflict is essential. • Respecting where children are in the moment creates opportunity to connect and teaches others watching acceptance. STEPS FOR TOMORROW • Know how to access your own composure and calm yourself in the moments that seem most heated and challenging. • See all behavior, no matter what it is, as a call for help and a missing skill. • Use the QTIP method – Quit Taking It Personally • Repeatedly teach the skill that is missing in the moment and through social play IMPORTANT LINKS www.ConsciousDiscipline.com Mental health specialists decrease power struggles, holds and conflict with Conscious Discipline - https://consciousdiscipline.com/videos/mental-health-specialists-decrease-power-struggles-holds-and-conflict-with-conscious-discipline/ Connecting Parents to the School Family: https://consciousdiscipline.com/videos/how-can-you-connect-parents-into-your-school-family-a-preschool-teacher-shows-the-way/ PRODUCTS • Conscious Discipline: Building Resilient Classrooms SHOW OUTLINE :22 What is Conscious Discipline 1:30 Introduction of today’s topic – young children and mental illness 3:12 Causes of mental illness 3:45 Introduction of guest Kim Jackson 6:15 Types of mental illness Kim has seen in her classroom 9:35 Story of what happened when the teacher was injured by a student 11:43 Approaching children with big behaviors 14:15 All behavior is some form of communication – a story of seeing it differently 18:47 Ways children call for help 20:03 Steps for helping and reaching challenging children 21:10 Story of child who has eaten poop 23:44 Story of responding to child with multiple personalities 26:28 Modeling acceptance for other students who witness challenging moments 27:46 Reaching the family of children with mental illness 31:40 Role play parent – teacher communication regarding “Did my child have a good day?” 34:40 Steps for tomorrow THANK YOU FOR LISTENING There are many ways you could have spent this time today, but you chose to spend it with me and I am grateful. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it with others via your favorite social media platforms. Also, would you consider taking 60-seconds to leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes? Your feedback is extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and I love to hear your feedback! Also, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, to get automatic updates every time a new episode goes live! On behalf of our Conscious Discipline family, we wish you well. ConsciousDiscipline.com